Vehicle wrecker hoist mechanism



Jan. 13, 1953 G. M. ASHTON ,6

VEHICLE WRECKER HOIST MECHANISM Filed Dec. 23, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. 650 6: A4 AsHroA/ BY awn/0 2 a: flax/5d Jan. 13, 1953 G, M, ASH ON 2,625,275

VEHICLE WRECKER HOIST MECHANISM Filed Dec. 23, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE M. Asx/ro/v BY 6m 6 palzw ATTO/PAIA'YS Jan. 13, 1953 e. M. ASHTON 2,525,275

VEHICLE WRECKER HOIST MECHANISM Filed Dec. 23, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

650/?65 M. ASHTON BY @mn w w Patented Jan. 13, 1953 VEHICLE WR-ECKER HOIST MECHANISM George M. Ashton, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ashton Power-Wrecker Equipment 00., 1110., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 23, 1949, Serial No. 134,755

4"Cla'ims. 1

This invention relates to an improved'automobile'wrecker hoist mechanism. This application is a continuation in part of application, Serial No. 18,377, filed April 1, 1948, now abandoned. The invention pertains particularly to improvements in the'hoist mechanism itself rather than to its mounting upon an automobile and such'hoist mechanism may therefore be employed inany desired location. 7

An object is'to provide a'hoist' mechanism employing a boom swinga'bly supported at its base for raising and lowering and provided at its'outer end with a pulley over which a lift cable travels. This boom, its supporting base and the raising and lowering mechanism for the boom are of simple construction and sturdy construction. "The boom shown is telescopically extensible so that it may beeasily and quickly adjustedto vary its total length.

A meritorious feature of this improved'hoist mechanism is that it is so constructed that the boom may be swung vertically to and retained at adjusted angular positions of height and the boom may be telescopically extended to and retained at adjusted positions of length, and such 'boom'is provided with a lift ulley assemblyjournalled upon its outer end for swingable movement to various angular positions with respect to the plane of lift of the boom and. in response to the outward angular extension of the lift cable, that-[passes over the wheelof the lift pulley, and such mechanism will operate satisfactorily at any position of extended length, angular position of elevation, or angular position 'oflift pulley assembly with respect to the boom.

Another object is to provide hoist mechanism with a swingable boom'having its'inner end pivotally supported for-raising and lowering offits outer end portion and wherein such "outer end portion is provided with a terminalpulleybver which a lift cable extends, andwhich pulley is journalled upon the outer end portion of the boom to swing about an axis extending substantially parallelto the axis'of the boom so that thelift cable may exend in a direct line overthe pulley to the weight to be lifted even though such weight is not located'directly underneath the pulley. In one embodiment the outer endportion of "the boom is not only telescopically extensibly coupled with the base end portion of the boom but is rotatable relative thereto about the axis of the boom.

A further object of this construction isthe provision of means whereby thetension-o'ftheilift cable in its extension from theliftgpulleyatthe 2 outer end of the boom to the weight to be lifted tends to cause such'pulley and the outer endof the boom to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the boom to place the pulley in such position that the lift cable may extend directly thereover to the weight to be lifted.

'The construction is such that-"the cable as it extends away from the pulley'to the weightpasses through a cableguide member pivotally supported on the pulley assembly and acting through such cable guide member exerts a torque .upon the pulley assembly tending to swing the same to that angular position relative to the plane of lift of the boom required to place thepulley on a direct line with the object to be lifted.

Another meritorious feature is that the means which functionsto maintain the boom at adjusted elevated positions acts through an auxiliary pulley not only to maintain the boom at adjusted angular positions of elevation but also to maintain the lift pulley in the proper position for the travel of the lift cable thereover. Such means may include a multiple pulley arrangement and power multiplying mechanism acting on the cable of the auxiliary pulley assembly.

Other objects and meritorius features will more fully appear from the following specification, claims and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. .1 is a. side elevation of a hoist mechanism embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 isa plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2 thereof,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the outer end of the boom,

Fig. '6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the linei6-'S of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1-7 of Fig. 1,

Fig. Bis a sideelevation ofa hoist mechanism of a modified construction,

Fig. 9 isa viewtaken on line 9-9 of Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a plan partlyinsection taken on line l0--l [Lof Fig. 8,

'Fig.'11 is a plan taken .onlineH-H-of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the lift pulley .mechanismat the outer end or the boom.

'In the drawings the hoist mechanismof this invention is illustrated as mounted within the body of what might be a small automobile truck having afloor It, side wall [2, .and a tailgate lllpivotallyisupported at it for swingable movement. Mounted upon the floor of the body adjacent to the forward end is a base frame it provided with a pair of upright standards [8. The numeral 20 indicates brace members extending from the base frame l6 to the standards l8.

Positioned forwardly of the frame assembly within the body is a rotatable drum 22 which is to be coupled with an electric motor 24 to be driven thereby. Wound upon the drum is a lift cable 26. A boom assembly is pivoted to the uprights I8 of the frame. This boom assembly is here shown as consisting of an inner end portion 28 which is in the form of an A frame pivoted at 30 to the uprights 18 for swingable raising and lowering through a vertical plane. The A frame is of conventional shape and the two side stringers which are channel shaped in cross section are shown as braced apart by struts 32. At an intermediate portion in the length of the A frame a tubular bearing 34 is supported by struts 36.

The two side frame members are secured rigidly together at their outer ends by upper and lower web plates 31 welded thereto and also by a tubular bearing 38 welded therebetween at their ends. The bearings 34 and 38 are lined up so that the outer end portion of the boom which is in the form of a tube 40 may be telescoped through these bearings and between the upper and lower web plates 31. The outer end portion 48 of the boom which is shown as in the form of a tube in the different figures of the drawing,

upon the axle and hangs therebelow as shown in the figures of the drawing.

Also mounted upon the pulley axle 58 is an auxiliary pulley assembly. It consists of a pulley frame 64 which carries a pulley wheel 66 mounted upon a pulley axle 68. This frame assembly is carried by a pair of curved arms 10 i1- lustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. These arms are journalled upon the axle 58 of the main pulley 56 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and the auxiliary pulley assembly overhangs the front end of the boom tube 40 as illustrated.

A cable 12 extends over the pulley wheel 66 of this auxiliary pulley assembly. The ends of this cable 12 are attached to the uprights I8 of the frame as shown in. Fig. 2. One end of the cable has an eye which is attached to one upright I8 as shown in Fig. 2. The other upright I8 is provided with a hook M. The free end of the cable is provided with a chain extension 1-6 which may be releasably secured at adjusted positions to hook M so that the cable may be shortened or lengthened to raise or lower the boom assembly and to accommodate for the lengthening or shortening of the boom assembly while maintaining it at desired elevated positions.

The auxiliary pulley assembly described will swing to any suitable position about the pulley axle 58 to accommodate for the raising and lowis telescopically mounted within the bearings 34 a and 38 with respect to the inner end portion of the boom which is the A frame.

As shown in the first modification illustrated in Figs. 1 through '7, such outer end portion 40 is not only telescopically extensible with respect to the inner end portion of the boom but is also rotatable relative thereto about its longitudinal axis. This portion 40 carries a slidable collar 42 and a pin 44 extends through such collar and passes also through any one of a series of apertures 46 in the boom. This collar therefore may be positioned lengthwise upon the boom so that such collar will abut the bearing 34 and hold the boom at projected'extensible positions. At the rear end of the outer end portion of the boom there is another removable pin 48 which will prevent the outer end portion of the boom from being completely withdrawn from the A frame except when the pin 48 is removed.

A collar-like band 52 is secured by welding or the like to the outer end of the tubular portion 40 of the boom as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. To this band 52 and to the outer end of the boom tube 40, is welded a plate 53 which forms with the collar 52 a cup-like member welded or otherwise secured to the end of the tube 48.

To this cup-like member at the boom end, the frame 54 of the lift pulley assembly is welded or fixed so that the pulley is fixed to the outer end of the boom tube 40. This pulley includes the pulley wheel 56 mounted upon an axle 58 which axle extends through the frame plates 54. The

ering of the boom. Tension of the cable of the auxiliary pulley also serves to, maintain the main pulley assembly in the upright position. The load imposed on the pulley wheel 56 of the main pulley assembly is off center the swivel mounting of the tube 40 and there is apt to be a caster efiect.

The cable guide means 60 also swings about the pulley axle 58 so as to accommodate itself to the extension of the cable 26 away from the pulley to the weight to be lifted. If the weight to be lifted is not disposed directly underneath the boom, the tension on the cable as its extends angularly to the weight exerts a torque upon the pulley frame to swivel the outer end of the boom 40 within the mounting at the inner end of the frame so that the cable will extend directly from the pulley to the weight to be lifted.

The entire structure may be quickly knocked down by removing the bolts 36 which secure the A frame inner end of the boom to the upright posts. The structure is a very rugged one and is particularly suitable for use on truck bodies where it is desired to lift objects that it may not be possible to back up to directly. For example, in removing an engine from a boat which boat is lying alongside a clock, the cable may have to be extended away from the pulley at an angle and the boom of this structure can be extended to the desired distance and it will swivel so that the cable will extend directly from the pulley at ghe touter end to the engine to be lifted out of the oa In the modification shown in Figs. 8 through 12 the construction is generally similar to that heretofore described in that there is a base frame [6a provided with an upright frame 18a. This upright frame is braced from the base frame by braces 20a. The boom assembly is generally similar to that heretofore described. There is an A frame inner end portion 28a pivoted at 36a to the upright frame I Be. This A frame may be braced apart by struts, not shown, as described in connection with the structure illustrated in Fig. 2.

Supported between the two side rails of the A frame intermediate its ends by a cross piece 36a isiatubularbearing 34a. The outer end of the A frame defines and supports a tubular bearing 38a which isaligned with the bearing 34a. The outer end portion of the boom is in the form of a tube 40a which is telescopically mounted within the-bearings 34a and-38a for slidable extensible movement. This boom 49a is provided with a pin 48a extending through its rear end and adapted to limit its outward .slidable movement. Apin Maextends through the stationary bearing 34a and through any oneofa plurality of openings 46a through the boom to fix the adjustable extension of the outer end of the boom. The outer end portion of the boom is held by this pin against rotation. In the construction shown in the first seven figures of the drawing the outer end portion of the boom is rotatable within the bearings which support it. A plate 53a is welded or otherwise secured to the outer end of the tubular boom 40a and is shown in Fig. as bearing against the end of the A frame.

A lift pulley assembly is journalled within the outer end of the tubular boom 40a. This pulley assembly comprises side frame plates 54a which carry an axle 58a on which is mounted a pulley wheel 56a. The frame assembly includes a pivot pin 55a which is rotatably journalled within the outer end of the tubular boom itle. A shoulder 51a is provided on this pivot pin which shoulder bears against the plate 53a at the end of the inner end portion of the boom as shown in Fig. 10. This pulley wheel assembly is, therefore, supported for swivelling movement to angular positions with respect to the vertical plane of the lift of the boom. Its axis of swivelling rotation is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

A cable guide 6011 is pivoted at 5 la to the pulley frame plates Me. This guide is in the form of a lever-like structure and carries a guide eye 62a through which the lift cable 26a extends. If this lift cable extends away from the pulley at an angle to the vertical plane of lift to the boom, the pulley will swing to such angle so that the cable will extend directly from the weight to be lifted to the pulley. The cable guide is, of course, swingable about the pivotal support 61a.

An auxiliary pulley assembly is also mounted upon the lift pulley frame. This auxiliary pulley assembly comprises a pulley frame 64a mounted upon a pivot pin 65a carried by the frame plates 54a. As shown in Fig. 11, this auxiliary pulley assembly includes two auxiliary pulley wheels 66a mounted on pulley wheel axles 61a.

A cable 12a is secured at one end as by an eye bolt 13a to the frame l8a. This frame also carries a pulley a over which this cable extends and the free end of the cable passes over a pulley 11a down to a winch assembly 79a whereby the pulley may be wound up around the winch in a manner which is well understood. A spring catch 8m is adapted to maintain the winch at adjusted positions of rotation to hold the tension on the cable 12a and sustain the boom at adjusted angular positions of elevation. It is apparent that if the amount of leverage shown in the pulley arrangement were unnecessary, the number of pulleys might be reduced. This auxiliary pulley assembly is not only adapted to sustain the boom at adjusted positions of elevation, but is also adapted to hold the lift pulley assembly normally upright so that the lift cable 26a extends properly thereover.

WhatI claim is:

1. In hoist mechanism,:a base, a boom having aninner end portion pivoted at one end to the base for vertical swingable movement and having an outer end portion telescopically coupled with the inner end portion for linear adjustment and for angular rotatable adjustment about its longitudinal axis, a lift pulley assembly mounted upon the outer end of the outer end portion of the boom, a lift cable extending from the baselover said pulley assembly, a cable guide pivotedtoop posite ends of the pulley-axle, an auxiliary pulley assembly pivoted to opposite ends of the pulley axle of the lift pulley assembly and extending over the boom toward the base and a cable extending adjustably from the base over the pulley of said auxiliary pulley assembly.

2. In a hoist mechanism, a base provided with an upright portion, a boom consisting of telescopically coupled inner and outer end sections, the inner end section being in the form of an A frame pivoted at its bottom to the base for swingable movement of the boom, the outer end portion being in the form of a tube, said A frame portion provided with aligned sleeves through which the tubular outer end portion is telescopically slidable and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a pulley assembly secured to the outer end of the outer section, a lift cable extending from the base over said pulley, an auxiliary pulley assembly pivotally supported for swingable movement upon the axle of the lift pulley assembly and extending inwardly therefrom overhanging the outer end of the boom, and a cable extending from the second pulley assembly and having its opposite ends connected to the upright portions of the base.

3. In a hoist mechanism, a base provided with an upright portion, a boom consisting of telescopically coupled inner and outer end sections, the inner end section being pivoted to the base for swingable movement of the boom, a pulley assembly secured to the outer end of the outer section, said outer section being rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the inner section,

a lift cable extending from the base over said pulley, an auxiliary pulley assembly pivotally supported for swingable movement upon the axle of the lift pulley assembly and extending inwardly therefrom overhanging the outer end of the boom and supported with its pulley wheel occupying a plane disposed substantially normal with respect to the plane of the pulley wheel of the lift pulley assembly, a cable extending over the auxiliary pulley assembly adjustably connected at its ends with the upright portion of the base to support the pulley at adjusted positions of elevation.

4. In a hoist mechanism, a base provided with an upright portion, a boom consisting of telescopically coupled inner and outer end sections, the inner end section being pivoted to the base for swingable movement of the boom, a lift pulley assembly secured to the outer end of the outer section, said outer section being rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the inner section, a lift cable extending from the base over said pulley, an auxiliary pulley assembly pivotally supported for swingable movement upon the axle of the lift pulley assembly and extending inwardly therefrom overhanging the outer end of the boom and supported with its pulley wheel occupying a plane disposed substantially normal with respect to the plane of the pulley wheel of 2,625,275 7 the lift pulley asembly, a cable extending over REFERENCES CITED the auxiliary pulley adjustably connected at its. d he ends with the upright portion of the base to sup-. g f gli fi are of recor m t port the pulley at adjusted swingable positions of elevation, a cable guide assembly comprising 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS a pair of arms pivotally supported upon the pul- Number Name Date ley wheel axle of the lift pulley assembly to de- 1,100,873 Harding June 23, 1914 pend therebelow and guide means at the outer 1,154,460 Walston Sept. 21, 1915 end of said arms spaced radially outwardly of 1,359,378 Holmes Nov. 16, 1920 the pulley wheel and through which the cable 10 1,657,187 Whittlesey Jan. 24, 1928 extends. 2,475,963 Howell July 12, 1949 GEORGE M. ASHTON. 2,479,009 Holmes et a1. Aug. 16, 1949 

